Share this article

Share

60 shares

The South Africans, with another World Cup near-miss and a series loss in Bangladesh behind them, picked themselves up to win in India at the end of last year.

Longer term, both sides have shown patchy one-day form. England is ranked No. 6 and South Africa No. 4. But they both have great quality, with the likes of Joe Root and Ben Stokes for England and Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers for South Africa.

Sir Ian Botham recently said that Ben Stokes (pictured) is now a crucial member of England's cricket team

Chris Woakes is back in the England team to face South Africa after he played the first test match in Durban

Jason Roy (right) goes through a light fitness session during training with team physio Craig de Weymarn

Left-armer Reece Topley gearing up for the the South Africa test - the 6ft 7in bowler could be crucial in the heat

'They are a very good side,' England all-rounder Chris Jordan said of the hosts. 'They just beat India in their own conditions in one-day cricket, so they will be full of confidence.

'In the last few months we have been focusing on ourselves and what we can do to hurt the opposition, rather than what the opposition can do. Obviously they have some very good players you have to be wary of, but we are more focusing on ourselves and that is a key strength for us.'

Also key is the possible effect of England's test series victory, its first over South Africa in 11 years. It was a huge boost for the English, and a sudden reality check for South Africa. As much as England hopes to keep that momentum, South Africa is desperate to win back some respect through its ODI team.

Moeen Ali confident against South Africa after heaping plenty of praise on England's seam bowlers recently

Ben Stokes has been in electrifying form for England recently and he'll be hoping to carry that on this week

Joe Root (left) with Roy who cut a rather rusty figure during training as he attempts to be as fit as possible

Eoin Morgan ready to show South Africa why he thinks England are one of the best teams in world cricket

Adil Rashid firmly believes England have what it takes to beat the World Cup semi-finalists South Africa

'There are no soft series or less important series. They are all important, particularly coming off a test series loss,' South Africa coach Russell Domingo said.

England will re-integrate test players Root, Stokes, Moeen Ali, James Taylor and the recalled Stuart Broad into a squad of promise with the likes of Jordan, Jos Buttler and Jason Roy - should Roy recover from a back problem in time to be fit to open the batting in the first ODI.

South Africa's shift to one-day gear appears to be far more complicated.

The tests have taken their toll, with fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Kyle Abbot picking up injuries, and fellow quicks Kagiso Rabada and Morne Morkel in need of a rest after a big workload during the series. Allrounder Albie Morkel was called up to bolster the ODI bowling, but then also got injured.

'It's an opportunity to test the depth of South African cricket,' Domingo said.